Pivotable connector for manipulator

Details Pivotable connector for manipulator Pivotable connector for manipulator

2001-08-13

2004-01-13

Bochna, David (Department: 3679)

Pipe joints or couplings

Swivel

Pipe in socket type

C285S275000, C285S273000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06676170

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pivotable connectors for machine tools, and particularly to pivotable connectors for mechanical manipulators.
2. Prior Art
Manufacturing industry automation is developing rapidly and becoming highly sophisticated. Mechanical manipulators are now universal in most modem industries. Oftentimes, manipulator fingers are connected to manipulator axles with connectors.
FIG. 4
shows a conventional connector for a manipulator. The connector comprises a pivot portion
200
and a connect portion
300
. The pivot portion
200
comprises a head
210
and a body
220
. The head
210
defines a plurality of screw holes
212
. Screws which extend from a clamp (not shown) of a manipulator finger (not shown) engage in the screw holes
212
, thereby attaching the head
210
to the clamp. A pair of outlets
214
is defined in a circumferential surface of the head
210
, extending radially inwardly toward a center of the head
210
. A pair of bores
216
is defined through the head
210
and into the body
220
. An upper portion of each bore
216
is in communication with a corresponding outlet
214
. A pair of inlets
222
is defined in the body
220
, extending radially inwardly toward a center of the body
220
. Each inlet
222
is in communication with a lower portion of a corresponding bore
216
. A pipe (not shown) is connected to each inlet
222
, for conveying airflow into the inlet
222
. The connect portion
300
comprises a base
310
and a position section
320
. The base
310
defines a plurality of screw holes
312
, for extension of screws (not shown) therethrough to engage with the body
220
. A plurality of locking holes
314
is defined in the base
310
, for extension of screws (not shown) therethrough to engage with an axle (not shown) of the manipulator. The connect portion
300
is thereby attached to the axle of the manipulator.
When the axle of the manipulator pivots and thereby causes the connector to pivot, the pipes are forced to twist and distort. After repeated and prolonged use, the pipes are prone to become weak and rupture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector which can prevent pipes of an associated manipulator from being twisted or distorted.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, a connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a pivot portion, a sleeve and a connect portion. The pivot portion comprises a body and a head. The body defines a pair of channels, and a pair of through holes each in communication with a corresponding channel. The head defines a pair of outlets and a pair of bores. Each bore is in communication with a corresponding through hole and outlet. The sleeve surrounds the body and defines a plurality of inlets in communication with the corresponding channels. The connect portion is attached under a bottom surface of the pivot portion and is engaged with a pivot axle of a manipulator. The sleeve is fixedly attached to a part of the manipulator which is fixed relative to the pivot axle. When the combined pivot portion and connect portion is pivoted by action of the pivot axle, the sleeve remains stationary relative to the pivot axle. Pipes connected to the inlets are thereby prevented from being twisted or distorted by the manipulator.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed embodiment of the present invention with attached drawings, in which:


REFERENCES:
patent: 2698664 (1955-01-01), Freeman
patent: 2886346 (1959-05-01), Nixon
patent: 3411526 (1968-11-01), Schaefer
patent: 3462176 (1969-08-01), Goodrum
patent: 3685397 (1972-08-01), Gooding, Jr.
patent: 4763693 (1988-08-01), Valley
patent: 5713609 (1998-02-01), Mascola
patent: 5839764 (1998-11-01), Heidelberger
patent: 6070917 (2000-06-01), Wiebe

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